Veteran mixed martial artist Delmar “King Dell” Silva surprised fans and experts alike with an extremely rare submission finish at FC Rush 23 in Vasteras, Sweden this Saturday.
Silva, who entered the bout carrying the weight of a four-bout losing streak and a modest 6-11 professional record, faced off against Swedish prospect Nabil Malki in what appeared to be a routine matchup on paper. However, what transpired inside the cage was anything but ordinary.
The unexpected drama unfolded quickly as Silva closed the distance and initiated a grappling exchange along the fence. With calculated precision, the experienced star secured one of Malki’s legs and began executing what grappling enthusiasts recognize as the exceedingly rare “Dogbar” kneebar technique.
Unlike a traditional kneebar, Silva’s execution involved using his legs and hips from a top position to create devastating pressure on Malki’s knee joint. The technique proved immediately effective, forcing the Swedish star to tap out in visible discomfort before any serious damage could occur.
“Great win by Del Mar Silva and that knee bar is nasty, it’s really really nasty,” remarked one of the commentators during the live broadcast on UFC FP. “He locks the foot, he locks down the foot and he really pushes on the hipstick.”
What makes this submission particularly noteworthy is its scarcity in professional competition. Grappling experts consider the “Dogbar” one of the most difficult submissions to execute successfully in live combat sports scenarios.
After securing the victory, Silva demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship by immediately checking on his opponent’s well-being, earning praise from the commentary team for his professionalism.
For Silva, this spectacular finish couldn’t have come at a better time, snapping his losing streak in memorable fashion and adding a highlight-reel submission to his record that already includes heel hook and rear-naked choke victories.
This remarkable display of technical grappling expertise will likely be remembered as one of the most impressive submission finishes of 2025, a bright moment for a veteran competitor who refused to be defined by his recent setbacks.
